The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-07-14

an sAV ACoAe VA Abioy WuACAA 10 COhACu
Tibet by. Europeans but Bod-yul or Peu-
yul by the natives Of the country, is bor-
dered to the south principally by the
Himalayan mountain ranges, which
stretch 1900 miles in longitudinal chains,
and also by asystem Of meridianal chains
lying across q further stretch of about
$50 miles, at right angles to the Himal-
ayas The region is highest on the north,
its loftiest tableland, the Lingzi-tang
plateau-which lies between Eastern
Turkistsn and Ladak-rising to the enor-
nous altitude Of 1900 feet above the
sea-level. This plateau abuts against
the Kiun-Lun ranges which constitute
the northern scarp, a. the Himalayas the
southern, Of what is probably the great
est existing protuberance above the gen.
eral level of the earth's crust. This re-
gion presents many interesting geograph-
ical problems which are engaging the Ia
bors of scientific explorers, but the in
hospitable tribes who inhabit 1t consti-
tute guard to its secrets not yet over
come and less is probably known about
It than Of Central Africa.
At the last meeting of the Royal
Geographical Society, of London, paper
was read on the geography Of that region
In which an interesting account was
given of the travels of q missionary,
whose observations, although published
years ago, were until recently overlooked
by geographers. In 1852 the Abbe Krick,
priest OF the French Roman Catholic
mission in Northern India, succeeded In
making his way into the Mishmi region
of Tibet.
NJ. Krick prepared himself for the
journey by acquiring q sufficient knowl-
edge Of the Mishmi language to enable
him TO converse freely with the Mishmis,
without the aid Of an interpreter, The
English officials in Upper Assam did all
presents to conciliate the Mishmis, and
on the failure Of his efforts to in
duce any Assamcse to take service
with him, as carriers Of his goods
and supplies of food for the journey,
they induced Kampti chieftain, Chow
sam Gohain, who had previously BEEN
employed in endeavoring to open up
communications with Tibet, to accom-
pany him and furnish him with Mishmi
porters. They started from Sadiya In
December, 1851, "a party" he says, Of
seventeen travellers in all, not including
;he dog Lorrain, who ran on in 'front.'"
They followed the course Of the Lohit
Brahmaputra, in some parts traversin6
the bed of the river, and having to spring
like acrobats across great bOulders, in
sither bank, scrambling over precipices
or cutting paths for themselves through
iense forest aud jungle. They had
frequently to cross the river by
suspension bridges of single cane,
along which the traveller has to pass, his
body resting in q cradle attached by "a
ring to the cane, down which he shoots
rapidly to the lowest point, midway, and
then hoists himself, laboriously climbing
with both hands and feet, up the rise to
the opposite bank; happily, his face all
che while looks up to the sky, and away
from the roaring torrent below. M.
Krick says that the first time he ventured
on this means of transit, and placed him.
! self in the cradle, he felt like man put.
/ ting q cord round his own neck; but
posite shore, without ever feeling the
i possibility of fall, he reproached him
EyofsSs }iA ,mistrust of Mishmi bridges
He givgga ..5ro115sia. account of the
Lohit Brahmaputa. He describes the
river as ascending from mountains to the
northeast, through a channel which re.
sembles q narrow cleft between two tow.
ering pinnacles; he testifies to its great
Q water-power, the irresistible impetuosity
of its course, the wild beauty of itt
banks, and the laundering roar with
? which 1t startles the surrounding soil
I tudes; he describes its bed in the Mishm
hills as all too narrow to contain the vol
ume Of water; thus it does not flow, but
| hNvr~Hn $,rv o1~v. {to 10
where Q sheet Of white foam, save In
rare intervals of comparative calm, where
It seems to slumber in deep pools undel
. .. the shadow of huge trees, whose verdure
= ID mirrored in its surface.
The presents with which he had beer
0 literally furnished by the English OH
r cials seem to have been rather an anxiety
q to him than otherwise; for they excited
the cupidity Of the chiefs of the CLAM
through which he had to pass, each o.
Q whom endeavored to get as much % ht
: could for himself. But wherever b,
y went his knowledge Of the Language
d stood him In good stead, and he me
4 with friendly reception; at every stage
4 however, he was strongly advised not Il
;. proceed any further, each clan fearing
:, and with the Tibetans; he wa
uVWAoAO oSsuoAy oSVPPONS O~s WY
where endeavors were made to terrif!
him into returning by tales of the danger
which assuredly awaited him. On reach
ing Jingsha's village, he was taken Il
the edge Of lofty precipice overhang
ing the Brahmsputra, and shown tn
place where two Asistics, who were en-
deavoring like him to make their wa.
, into Tibet, had been murdered, som
d years previously, and their corpse
n thrown into the river. "See," said hi
= informants, who appear to have beef
: really anxious for his welfare, "there ar
\ the stains Of their blood; II you go OF
you will be murdered and your bod,
thrown into the river" But he was re
solved to proceed at all risks, and whel
they found this they guided him onwar,
2 and supplied porters to carry his stOcl
g of goods, which, however, wa
J being rapidly diminished by petit,
b thefts and presents to the chiefs. HI
+ had gun, and always kept 1t by him
and a. the Mishmis had very few fire
arms, the possession of this weapon mad
them somewhat afraid Of him, and he ap
pears to have prudently abstained fron
70 ever firing It, and thus betraying hi
small skill In ito use. One night whel
d close to Tibet, he was aroused by an Al
q samese whose release he had 0btaine'
from slavery to the Mishmis, who in
formed him that the people were plottinl
hfn murder and h0 ahOuld keen aWak